Detachable button.



G. M. CHARLES.

DETACHABLE BUTTON.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1o. 1919.

1,326,323. PaIenIed 1390.3(),1919

61H01 new UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

GEORGE .'LVI. CHARLES, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

DETAGI-IABLE BUTTON.

Application filed September 10, 1919.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. CHARLEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at l/Vashington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Detachable Buttons; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to buttons and fasteners of the separable thread-bar type, and has for an object the production of buttons and button-fasteners which are at one and the same time extremely simple, durable, and inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object is the production of separable buttons capable of ready removal from garments to facilitate pressing, or for other reasons, and which are also proof against accidental dislodgment.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of this application for Letters Patent, and whereon corresponding numerals refer to like parts in the several views,

Figure 1 is a transverse, sectional view of a button equipped with my improvement, and in operative position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a thread-bar forming part of my present invention, andlsecured to a fragment of fabric or wearing apparel;

Fig. 3 is a corresponding view of the thread-bar and in addition a horizontal, sectional view of a button in process of attachment thereto;

Fig. 4 is a transverse, sectional view through fabric, thread-bar and button in the initiatory stage of assembling;

Fig. 5 is a view corresponding with Fig. 3, except that the button body has here been rotated into its operative position as indicated by Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective View of the thread-bar detached; and

Fig. 7 is a View corresponding with Fig. 6, but of a modified form of unitary threadbar.

Reference being had to the drawings and numerals thereon, 10 indicates a fragment of cloth or other fabric, to which is secured by threads 11 or otherwise, a unitary threadbar 12 forming part of the present invention. The said bar 12 is substantially flat in form, and is preferably stamped from Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 30, 1919.

Serial No. 322,799.

spring metal, or formed of relatively soft sheet metal and later oil tempered. In the form of construction illustrated by Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive of the drawings, thread-bar 12 is broken by a central longitudinal slot 13 forpurposes of attachment, is approximately pointed at one end as at 14, and at its opposite end is slit longitudinally to form tangs 15, 15 and 16, the latter bent slightly out of the plane of the bar 12 to serve as a spring tooth for retaining a button member in operative position as will later appear.

The button member or body 17 preferably of circular shape and hollow, is stamped, molded, or otherwise formed, with a concave or depressed face 18 and an underlying inturned flange 19 as best shown by Figs. 1 and 4. The said flange 19 at one point is broken by a gap or gateway 2O of a width sufficient to admit the reduced end 14 of thread-bar 12, or the central spring tooth or tang 16 according to circumstances as will now appear in a brief statement of use and operation.

Thread-bar 12 having been first secured to a garment as indicated at 10 by means of threads 11 sewed Vover and under through slot 13 as illustrated by Fig. 2, a hollow button body 17 is next introduced over said bar 12 with all of its tangs 15, 15 and 16 resting entirely within the button above its flange 19 as indicated by Figs. 3 and 4, particularly the latter.

Button 18 is then rotated until its gap or opening 20 registers with the reduced end 14 of bar 12 which latter is thus also introduced into the confines of the button member as best shown by Fig. 4. In this position, obviously the central spring tang 16 is restrained because of its position above the button flange 19, and the pressure exerted upon the surface of bar 12 by the concaved inner surface 18 of said button.

The button member 17 is next rotated around the within contained and relatively fixed thread-bar 12 from the position indicated by Figs. 3 and 4 to that indicated by Figs. 1 and 5, whereupon the spring tooth or tang 16 no longer restrained by flange 19 springs into the gap 20 thus locking the button in operative position and against accidental dislodgment until deliberately removed by rst depressing said spring-actuated interlocking-tang 16, and a reversal of the operation aforesaid.

When this has been accomplished, however, the button body may be readily removed as for example when it is desired te press or to launder a garment so equipped; or, to replace worn buttons, or to substitute buttons of different material or color to harmonize with other articles of wearing apparel, or for'any other reason.

F ig. 7 represents a modified form of thread-bar having all of the characteristics or their full mechanical equivalents, of that 'heretofore described, and adapted to function the same. Here is shown a unitary bar 12 formed of relatively stiff spring wire, having at one end a slightly upturned, reduced projection lt, at its opposite end a plurality of tangs l5', l6 terminating in different horizont-al planes, and at a` median point offsetting loops 13 by means of which it may be secured to a garment.

Having thus described my present invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. Ina separable button, the combination with a relatively Xed thread-bar, of a button body having an inturned flange broken at one point by a gateway, adapted to permit passage of one end of the thread-bar and to interlock with the other end of said bar when the button is rotated.

2. In a separable button, the combination with a relatively fixed thread-bar, of a button body having an inturned flange and a depressed center and a gateway in said flange adapted to permit passage of one end of the thread-bar and to interlock with the other end of said bar whenthebutton is rotated.

3, In a separable button, the combination with a hollow button-body having an inturned peripheral flange broken at one point by a gateway, of a thread-bar having a reduced end adapted to entersaid gateway and a spring tang at its opposite end adapted to interlock with said gateway when the button is rotated into operative position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE M.- CHARLES.

1Witnesses XVM. E. DEEE, JAMES H. MARR. 

